STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3435

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1650

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1650, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the disclosure of the disposition of an alleged child abuse or neglect investigation in a licensed group child care home or group child care center to:

(A) Any parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the same group child care home or group child care center in which the alleged abuse or neglect took place; or

(B) Any parent or guardian who has submitted an application to the group child care home or group child care center in which the alleged abuse or neglect took place; and

(2) Establish a temporary working group to review laws, rules, and procedures relating to the coordination of investigations and enforcement efforts of the Child Welfare Services Branch and Child Care Licensing Program to improve safety in child care settings.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, The Queen's Health Systems, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and fourteen individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii is experiencing a shortage in child care facilities, with only enough childcare seats regulated by the Department of Human Services to serve approximately twenty-four percent of children needing care in the State. Despite this shortage, many working families rely on child care facilities to ensure that their children are safe and protected. This measure will provide parents and guardians of children in child care facilities with the assurance that their child is in a safe environment and timely notice if the child care facility at which their children are enrolled or which they may be considering is the subject of an investigation. Your Committee notes, however, that Department of Human Services, Department of the Attorney General, and advocates are still working on possible further amendments to this measure with respect to the degree of disclosure, need for provider consent, and other issues.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1650, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

________________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair